Russian figures price hike (1 Viewer)

C

Cold Steel Miniatures

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I spoke to Tatiana Gapchenko of Nevskaya Miniatures yesterday and she said she has had to put the price up on here figures by 50% , to deal with the rampant inflation in Russia. I will not be able to buy anymore at these prices. I suppose it will take a few months for these prices to filter through but once current stocks are depleted the prices will go up or people will stop ordering it altogether.
 
Wow! i wonder if the way for them to go us to make limited editions and charge that increased price. That way we are paying more, but in theory getting something that is more special. Of course, this mean higher costs for sculpting, etc since they will have to do more.
 
Something doesn't smell right here...

The Russian Ruble has experienced massive devaluation indexed to US Dollar. Meaning it costs the average Russian more to buy imported goods but cheaper for consumers buying Russian goods with US dollars.

Okay, say most of the raw materials needed to make toy soldiers came from outside Russia. The US Dollar should keep their profit margin stable? Besides, isn't most the cost of these toy soldiers in the creations of the toy soldiers by Russian labor?

I probably have this all wrong. Someone set me straight here.

Carlos
 
desk11desk12 said:
Something doesn't smell right here...

The Russian Ruble has experienced massive devaluation indexed to US Dollar. Meaning it costs the average Russian more to buy imported goods but cheaper for consumers buying Russian goods with US dollars.

Okay, say most of the raw materials needed to make toy soldiers came from outside Russia. The US Dollar should keep their profit margin stable? Besides, isn't most the cost of these toy soldiers in the creations of the toy soldiers by Russian labor?

I probably have this all wrong. Someone set me straight here.

Carlos
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I don't really know the economics of it but I was told what used to cost me $110 3 months ago now will cost me$165.

I don't think it has anything to do with the production of the soldiers. The dollar is worth a lot of roubles but the rouble has very little value in Russia. Prices in Russia for basic goods are going through the roof so the painters are demanding more money. I could be wrong but why else would the price go up so much.
 
I'm guessing that the Ukrainian sanctions may be having an effect.
 
I have not bought a russian figure in over a year for the following reasons :

- the average standing figure which was around 120$ one year ago now cost at least 170$ US
so this represents already a 50% price increase
- the russian ruble has drop 50% value in the meanwhile
russian painters are not paid in US dollars but russian rubles
so the actual price increase in russian rubles is 100% in a year
-the quality of painting that you get for the same price has dropped including Arsenyev figures
-the canadian dollar has lost 15% value against US dollar so this equals to a 115% increase for me in a yea
-I paint my own figures now and can do a pretty good job
-I have enough figures and seriously, when they are asking 1000$ for an average paint job, is it really worth it ? I am not talking about the WOW figure, but the average figure that kolobob sells these days..
-oh yes and they don't take paypal or credit card except kolobob : seriously, with their economic situation, i don't feel secure at all in wiring them hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

so for all these reasons, i'm OUT


cheers
Alex




royalwelch said:
I spoke to Tatiana Gapchenko of Nevskaya Miniatures yesterday and she said she has had to put the price up on here figures by 50% , to deal with the rampant inflation in Russia. I will not be able to buy anymore at these prices. I suppose it will take a few months for these prices to filter through but once current stocks are depleted the prices will go up or people will stop ordering it altogether.
Click to expand...
 
If you look on eBay, there are a few painters who used to paint for others going out on their own. One of the Kolobob painters is now selling really nice figures from $91 to $140. I am waiting for my first figures from him to arrive.
 
WOW. Seriously how much do manufacturers think they can continue to raise prices ? I sold off all of my Russian figures and refuse to buy any more just for this reason. I have to agree that the painting quality and historical accuracy have fallen below what I expect when spending that kind of money.
 
bradleyl30 said:
If you look on eBay, there are a few painters who used to paint for others going out on their own. One of the Kolobob painters is now selling really nice figures from $91 to $140. I am waiting for my first figures from him to arrive.
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Are you willing to share who that is? I'd love to take a peak
 
That's sad news as any further increase, and a 50% one at that, would likely force me to move on as well.

Maybe it's time to start collecting those replica Faberge Eggs {sm5}

I sometimes wonder if some of these Russian painters live in an alternate universe :)
 
I do disagree with a couple of points raised, now I can't speak for kolobob or arsenyev but the quality of Tatiana studio has not dropped one bit nor has the price gone up in 3 years(well I have been paying the same price). Her work has been consistent and the standard excellent, I have never had a substandard soldier off her.

Why a lot of collectors buy off kolobob is because he has the soldiers ready if you order off Tatiana you will have a 3 or 4 month wait but you get an excellent soldier when it arrives.
 
I love Tatiana's work and dealing with her is a pleasure.
More and more I am starting to go the route of picking a casting and having it painted by different people. I have found people on Facebook and also on Planet Figure's website who do wonderful work.
I am currently waiting on 3 commissioned pieces that i am very excited about. Two are painted castings and one is completely custom (sculpt, painting, etc).
I will not stop my Russian collection, but if prices keep going up, I will have to become more picky and selective
 
zblang said:
I love Tatiana's work and dealing with her is a pleasure.
More and more I am starting to go the route of picking a casting and having it painted by different people. I have found people on Facebook and also on Planet Figure's website who do wonderful work.
I am currently waiting on 3 commissioned pieces that i am very excited about. Two are painted castings and one is completely custom (sculpt, painting, etc).
I will not stop my Russian collection, but if prices keep going up, I will have to become more picky and selective
Click to expand...

Good on you Zach there are plenty of good painters out there. The custom built one must have cost a pretty penny.^&grin

I won't be buying any until prices get back to normal, if they ever do.
 
McFuglas said:
That's sad news as any further increase, and a 50% one at that, would likely force me to move on as well.

Maybe it's time to start collecting those replica Faberge Eggs {sm5}

I sometimes wonder if some of these Russian painters live in an alternate universe :)
Click to expand...


Agreed - the products usually do look nice - but someone should perhaps remind them that they are actually producing highly priced Toy Soldiers - not jewelry? jb
 
"...highly priced Toy Soldiers..." But they aren't, and never were, sold as toy soldiers. They are usually referred to as connoisseur figures for a reason. There was some controversy over their legitimacy as 'military miniatures', even, when they started showing up in competitions such as Euro Militaire.
"... historical accuracy [has] fallen below what I expect..." The figures have always had a level of decoration more elaborate than existed in real life. That's what collectors are paying for, not for the correct shape of a weapon or cut of a garment.
"...time to start collecting those replica Faberge Eggs..." What has ever been the difference in the objects? Both are exquisite examples of skilled craftsmanship. One is figurative in form and the other is not. I've seen military-themed china and porcelain statuettes in people's collections- usually not historically accurate or well-proportioned- which cost far more than the costliest Russian figure.
And check out Andrea Miniature's website. They're a popular Spanish producer of miniature figure kits. They'll also assemble and paint any of their kits for you. You can have them do up a single 1/32 longhorn steer for a mere 160 Euros. Russian prices start to look like bargains!
 
Mike Niederman said:
"...highly priced Toy Soldiers..." But they aren't, and never were, sold as toy soldiers. They are usually referred to as connoisseur figures for a reason. There was some controversy over their legitimacy as 'military miniatures', even, when they started showing up in competitions such as Euro Militaire.
"... historical accuracy [has] fallen below what I expect..." The figures have always had a level of decoration more elaborate than existed in real life. That's what collectors are paying for, not for the correct shape of a weapon or cut of a garment.
"...time to start collecting those replica Faberge Eggs..." What has ever been the difference in the objects? Both are exquisite examples of skilled craftsmanship. One is figurative in form and the other is not. I've seen military-themed china and porcelain statuettes in people's collections- usually not historically accurate or well-proportioned- which cost far more than the costliest Russian figure.
And check out Andrea Miniature's website. They're a popular Spanish producer of miniature figure kits. They'll also assemble and paint any of their kits for you. You can have them do up a single 1/32 longhorn steer for a mere 160 Euros. Russian prices start to look like bargains!
Click to expand...

Well - in my view Mike = call them what you like - "Connoisseur Figures" = "Military Miniatures" = "Figurines" - etcetera, etcetera............

They are (mostly) painted metal castings (though some do come in different substances) - that I include under the generic title of TOY SOLDIERS.

I usually notice that the higher the price asked - the fancier the titles become- though as you correctly note - some of the pricier Toy Soldier manufacturers are not immune from asking sky-high prices for their products too.

But when push comes to shove - their just a very pretty and skillfully painted Toy Soldiers to me , for little and big boys like us, to play with. :wink2:

And maybe that's why we get the chance to see them on a "Toy Soldier Forum".

What's in a name - eh? jb
 
Now, you know as well as I do that toy soldiers have to be nice and simple and shiny, with rosy cheeks, and oddly placed black dot eyes. :wink2: Mine do, anyhow. ^&grin
 
Mike Niederman said:
Now, you know as well as I do that toy soldiers have to be nice and simple and shiny, with rosy cheeks, and oddly placed black dot eyes. :wink2: Mine do, anyhow. ^&grin
Click to expand...


Well, I know you know what I prefer Mike - and they are ALMOST as you describe - but I hope I do a better job on the eyes nowadays!{eek3}

But - I stick to my premise. Tart them up however you like - and call 'em all the fancy names you like - they are all derivatives of the early Paper, Metal Flats, Demi-rondes and thee-dimensional Toy Soldiers of today. The major difference between the simpler Glossy or Matte "Toy Soldier Style" and their fancier named bretheren is frequently, the price. And the fancier the name they are given (usually), the higher they go - and ( as the heading of this thread implies), continue to go.

And yes - the companies that want to charge big-bucks for a simple painted casting - will probably get what they deserve - eventually - and join the miriad of names that have ceased to trade.

Until then - I hope to keep 'em simple - and keep 'em shiny. (and hopefully, more affordable).:D:D jb
 
Johnny,

We know what you like but there are others who like it different. You may think a $500 figure is a toy soldier but there is quite a difference between a simple figure and one of the Russian ones, as you well know. I, myself, wouldn't spend $1,000 for one but I don't begrudge those who buy military miniatures and, yes, these are military miniatures.

Brad
 
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